Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

October 6, 2012

Blazes look to the top

Westbrook continues a quest for No. 1 in Western Class B by unleashing a second-half surge to beat York, 48-34.

By Tom Chard tchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND - Westbrook High hurt itself with four first-half penalties Friday night -- three personal fouls and one for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Then came the second half, and a different team.

Westbrook scored 28 unanswered points and beat York 48-34 in a Western Class B football game at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

The surge came after York built a 22-8 halftime lead.

The game matched teams with 4-1 records who were tied for No. 1 in the Crabtree standings entering the game. The difference? Westbrook was able to keep its composure and avoid penalties in the second half.

"The kids took it upon themselves to get it done in the second half," said Westbrook Coach Jeff Guerette.

Cale Bollig scored four touchdowns for the Blazes (5-1). Quarterback Ross Hogan scored on three short runs for York (4-2).

The Blazes needed something good to happen quickly in the second half and got it when Kyle Schumacher recovered a fumble at the York 44.

Ben Grant then gained 30 yards to the 14 and Bollig scored on the next play. The rush for a 2-point conversion failed and the lead was down to 22-14.

Four plays later, Westbrook linebacker Noah Collins picked off a Hogan pass and returned it across midfield to the 38. The Blazes converted a fourth-and-1 when Bollig ripped off 20 yards. Grant scored on a 10-yard run on the next play and Bollig rushed for a 2-point conversion to tie it.

The Wildcats drove to the Westbrook 6 on the ensuing series, but the Blazes stiffened and a 35-yard field-goal attempt by Ben Lawlor had the distance but was wide right.

Taking over on the 20, Westbrook scored in four plays: Grant got the TD on a counter, taking an inside handoff and going 63 yards to make it 28-22.

The Wildcats couldn't move and were forced to punt. A Kyle Heath to Collin Joyce pass gained 14 yards for Westbrook. On the next play, Joyce went 46 yards on another counter to make it 34-22. Kyle Schumacher rushed a 2-point conversion.

The Wildcats finally scored again, using passes to drive. Hogan connected with Lawlor for 37 yards, then with Wes Warner for 28 to the 1.

Hogan snuck it in with 7:32 left. The Blazes blocked the PAT and it was 36-28.

Westbrook finally had to punt when three runs gained little yardage, but soon got the ball back when another linebacker, Trey Arsenault, intercepted a pass to give the Blazes the ball at the Wildcats' 17.

Four running plays, three by Bollig, the last covering 6 yards for the score, gave Westbrook a 42-28 advantage with 2:30 remaining.

Still, York wasn't done. Hogan hit three straight passes, the last for 15 yards and a touchdown to Warner on the side, to bring the Wildcats within eight points with 1:35 remaining.

Again, the Blazes blocked the PAT.

Bollig had one last touchdown in him, covering 45 yards for the final score.

"We had to forget the penalties that were called on us in the first half and focus on running our offense in the second half," said Grant.

Grant and Bollig gained well over 100 yards each. Sean Kelly carried 19 times for York in the first half, gaining 111 yards. The Blazes did a good job of limiting him after that.

The game was moved from Olmsted Field in Westbrook because the field lights there were deemed unsafe.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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